Esther Ewing

Born in New Orleans on Sept. 7, 1930 to Mildred Hunt Ewing and Wilson Ewing, Esther spent her childhood with her younger brother Robert Ewing III (deceased) in Monroe, Louisiana, where her father was the publisher of the Monroe Morning World and the Monroe News-Star Newspapers. Following high school, Esther attended Randolph-Macon College, where she studied English Literature and French. Following her first year of college, she took a grand summer tour of Europe with other young ladies of Monroe, creating many enduring memories. The next winter, a severe case of pneumonia interrupted her studies and brought her home. She relished telling stories of her days as a “cub reporter” working for her father during this time, covering such topics as fires and obituaries. Esther completed her education at Sophie Newcomb College while residing in New Orleans with her dear aunt, Esther Ewing Brown (Aunt Bing).

The day after her 22nd birthday, the father whom she adored died suddenly. Esther then moved to New York City to pursue a modeling career. She resided at the Barbizon Hotel for a period in the early 1950’s. She was a favorite model of the designer Eleanora Garnett and was photographed by the photographer Richard Avedon.

After her father’s death, Esther assumed the responsibility of serving as a board member for the News-Star World Publishing Company, a capacity she served in until the sale of the company in 1977.

In 1954 Esther returned to New Orleans and subsequently met Dr. Harrison Kelly Wynne (deceased) whom she married in July 1955. She gave birth to two daughters and devoted herself to making a lovely home for them. Her passions were her rose garden (which was featured many times on the New Orleans Rose Garden Tour throughout the 1960’s) and antiques (both French and oriental). While Esther and Dr. Wynne divorced in 1973, they remained close lifelong friends.

After her divorce, Esther reconnected with an old flame from her modeling days in NYC, Sterling Bruhn Jensen. Following their wedding in San Francisco the couple resided in Manhattan for several years before settling in New Orleans. After Sterling’s death in 1993, Esther devoted the next 30 years of her life to her children and grandchildren, creating warm and special memories with them in New Orleans, Montana, and during annual beach trips to the Gulf Coast. She is survived by her daughters Esther Ewing Wynne (Dr. Robert Wilson) of Hardin, MT and Elizabeth Wynne Martin (Richard) of New Orleans. Her grandchildren are Dr. Harrison D. Martin (Courtney) of Dallas, TX, Jacob Wynne-Wilson of New Orleans, Olivia Martin Das (Dr. Thomas Das) of Cleveland, OH, Abigail Wynne-Wilson Fulgenzi (Ryan) of Tacoma, WA and Julia Martin Spencer (Joshua) of New Orleans. She is also survived by her beloved niece, Krista Ewing Wilson and her nephew, Robert Ewing IV of Monroe. Esther is further survived by four great-grandchildren.

The family wishes to especially thank Annette Hite for the loving care she gave Mom/Nani for the last five years. Memorial donations may be made to St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital or a charity of your choice. Funeral Services will be held at Lake Lawn Metairie Funeral Home on Friday, June 16 at 11 AM, preceded by visitation beginning at 9:30 AM.